Canucks News

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that Lorne Henning has been named Vice President of Player Personnel & Assistant General Manager, Laurence Gilman has been named Vice President of Hockey Operations & Assistant General Manager and Stan Smyl has been named Senior Advisor to the General Manager.

Henning, 56, joined the Canucks in September 2005 as a Pro Scout, bringing 28 years of playing and coaching experience at the NHL level, and four Stanley Cup Championship rings. Prior to being named Vice President of Player Personnel & Assistant General Manager, Henning held the position of Director, Player Personnel.

In his new role, Henning will work closely with General Manager, Mike Gillis, on all player personnel decisions including player evaluations, trades and free-agent signings. Henning will also manage the club’s professional North American and European Scouting and continue in a scouting capacity, covering Western Conference NHL teams. Additionally, Henning will serve as the primary liaison with the Canucks minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose and oversee the Director of Player Development.

Gilman, 43, was named Vice President of Hockey Operations & Assistant General Manager after serving as the Canucks Director, Hockey Administration since May 2008. Prior to joining the Canucks, Gilman spent 13 years with the Coyotes/Jets organization most recently working as the club’s Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager. In his new role as Vice President of Hockey Operations & Assistant General Manager, Gilman will work closely with General Manager, Mike Gillis in the day-to-day administration of the Canucks hockey operations department, and be involved in all aspects of the on-ice operations of the hockey team.

Gilman will oversee the development and implementation of the budget for the Canucks’ hockey operations department, negotiation of player contracts, salary arbitration, player transactions, administration and application of the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and the development of the club’s strategic salary cap plan. He will also supervise and oversee the Club’s amateur scouting department.

Smyl, 50, has spent his entire professional hockey career with the Canucks and was named Senior Advisor to the General Manager after recently taking on new duties as Director of Collegiate Scouting. In his new role with the club, Smyl will work closely with General Manager, Mike Gillis on a number of initiatives in the hockey operations department, while continuing his responsibilities for scouting and evaluating the collegiate game in North America. Smyl began his career with the Canucks as a player, then coach and has most recently worked in a Player Development capacity.